Chris Hood - About
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Who is Chris Hood?

Hi, I’m Chris Hood, a digital strategist, podcast host, and author. I love storytelling and have made it an essential part of my career. I’ve always loved escaping into words, sounds, images, and events to paint a solution for others to experience. It is the primary reason I am a veteran of the digital entertainment industry with more than three decades of working across various mediums, including television, film, music, and video games.

What once started as selling popcorn in a local movie theater and a film student, I found my love for cinema and an endless drive that propelled my career to incredible heights. This included receiving multiple industry awards for theatre marketing campaigns, including the National Association of Theater Owners’ coveted customer service award and Hollywood Reporter’s grand prize showmanship award three years in a row for Jurassic Park (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), and Apollo 13 (1995). This was also the point in my life where I began public speaking. At 19 years old, I stood in front of audiences of 500 people to talk about movies. 

Taking “behind-the-scenes” to a new level, I followed my entrepreneurial spirit early on to invent, develop and market a patent-pending digital multimedia advertising and interactive technology platform for movie theatres. The Digireel technology was the first digital cinema advertising and video game program introduced to replace slide-based pre-show entertainment, creating a unique, next-generation advertainment service. Digireel premiered in the summer of 1999 at Cinemapolis movie theatre in Anaheim Hills, California, and was acquired by National Cinema Network a year later. The Digireel technology is the foundation for onscreen advertising seen in theatres nationwide today, and was the first introduction of Artificial Intelligence into an interactive theater projection.

In 2003 I joined the music industry with a small startup called Ruckus Network (Ruckus.com). We produced a legal music service for college campuses during Napster’s reign and the RIAA suing college students for music piracy. In 5 years, the company grew and was acquired by a joint venture between Universal Music Group and Sony Music called Total Music. During this venture, I was responsible for designing the first “cloud” based music player, TunePost, before the cloud existed. 

No stranger to transforming various industries, my eye for innovation and strategic digital campaigns sparked several executive management stints, including FOX Broadcasting Company. While at Fox, I developed storytelling technologies and innovated new mechanisms for viewers to engage with television content for shows like GleeGothamSleepy Hollow, and American Idol. My work also included developing TV Everywhere products and building new interactive media to support digital marketing initiatives across multiple media platforms, including Xbox, Playstation, Apple TV, Roku, and Chromecast.

I am an active member and previous chair of the International Game Developers Association, supporting over 20,000 members in Southern California in the video game industry. My passion for games led me to Co-found Blind Squirrel Games in Orange County, California, in 2009. Around this time, I spent more time in the AI space and began teaching courses at Colorado Technical University on AI/ML automation and ethics.

By 2014, my expertise garnered the trust and respect of dozens of brands. I developed the framework for Customer Transformation and continued to deliver customer-centric strategies for Universal, Doritos, Reebok, Columbia Pictures, Apigee, Emmys, and more.

In 2016, I joined Google as the Head of Digital Business Strategy and platforms. I utilized my thought leadership and strategic insights on digital and customer transformation to fuel numerous enterprises toward success. During my tenure at Google, I kept my finger on the pulse of the media and entertainment industry, participating strategically in our industry solutions and developing incredible customer experiences across all mediums. I also had the honor of creating and hosting That Digital Show, the first weekly business podcast for Google Cloud.

Today, as a keynote speaker, author of “Customer Transformation,” host of ‘The Chris Hood Digital Show,’ & ‘Customer Transformation Live,’ and Founder & CEO of Synsible AI. On all of my platforms, I address the challenges and impacts of swiftly changing technology landscapes and the impact of technology on consumers.

My role extends beyond hosting and speaking; I also consult with companies, guiding them through the principles of Customer Transformation. I enjoy travel, movies, and penning my upcoming fantasy-adventure novel in my leisure time. I continue contributing to academia as an adjunct professor at Southern New Hampshire University, following my teaching tenure at Colorado Technical University.

Don’t hesitate to contact me for more information or to explore speaking opportunities.

Additional Media Bios

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Chris Hood, a keynote speaker, strategist, and thought leader in customer-centric cultures, artificial intelligence, and innovation, boasts over three decades of experience in business development. The author of 'Customer Transformation,' Chris, provides a roadmap to customer alignment and business value, articulating a transformative seven-stage strategy. As the Founder and CEO of Synsible AI, Chris spends his time helping businesses leverage AI and reach 10x thinking. Former roles include heading Google's Digital Business Strategy, crafting transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies, and developing storytelling technologies at Fox Broadcasting & Disney for popular shows such as Glee, American Idol, 24, and Gotham. Currently, Chris shares his insights on 'The Chris Hood Digital Show' and 'Customer Transformation Live,' helping businesses worldwide accelerate their digital potential and alignment with customers. As a co-founder of Blind Squirrel Games, his influence stretches across multiple industries. Beyond consulting, Chris imparts his knowledge to Southern New Hampshire University students, bridging the gap between business and technology.
Chris Hood, a digital strategy expert and author of 'Customer Transformation,' boasts 35+ years in AI, marketing, and business development. Hosting 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' he guides organizations on innovation and customer-centric leadership. Former roles include heading Google's Digital Business Strategy, crafting transformation programs for Fortune 500 companies, and developing storytelling technologies at Fox Broadcasting & Disney. As a co-founder of Blind Squirrel Games, his influence stretches across multiple industries. Chris also teaches at Southern New Hampshire University.
Chris Hood, author of "Customer Transformation" and digital strategist, has over 35 years of experience in business development. He advises businesses on AI and innovation, hosts 'The Chris Hood Digital Show,' formerly spearheaded Google's Digital Business Strategy, developed storytelling technologies at Fox Broadcasting, and co-founded Blind Squirrel Games.
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